The Iona Gaels are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013, and they snuck in just in time to allow A.J. English, one of the MAAC's all-time players, to take his shot under the bright lights of March. Will head coach Tim Cluess' run-and-gun team be able to generate enough stops to knock off a marquee team?
ESPN Insider has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of Bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel, and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams to help you make smart picks in your bracket.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: at Monmouth, vs. Monmouth, at Siena (2)
Worst losses: at Rider, at Fairfield
Regular-season conference finish: Second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Polls and metrics: Iona has not been ranked in either poll this season.
All-time tourney record: 1-10
Coach's tourney record: Tim Cluess is 0-2 in two appearances.
Bracketology chart | BPI information
PERSONNEL
(Note: Player statistics are through games March 6.)
STARTING LINEUP
G A.J. English (22.5 PPG, 6.2 APG)
F Isaiah Williams (12.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG)
G Deyshonee Much (13.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG)
G Ibn Muhammad (5.3 PPG, 2.7 APG)
F Jordan Washington (13.8 PPG, 6.0 RPG)
Key bench players
F Aaron Rountree (6.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG)
G Jahaad Proctor (5.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG)
G Rickey McGill (3.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG)
Biggest strength: Iona possesses an offense capable of going on huge runs at any point in a game. Missing shots for long stretches of time does not affect this team, as it is a confident group that always believes the next shot is going in. An NBA-caliber scorer such as English is not something low-major teams generally possess.
Biggest weakness: The Gaels rely on the 3-point shot almost as much as anyone in the country (more on this later), and if you can catch them on an "off" night, you'll like your chances. Iona will not deviate from its style of play, and the Gaels are big believers in shooting themselves out of a slump -- something that could be advantageous for your club if you face them ... or not.
Best player: English. The 6-foot-4 English looks the part of an NBA guard: long and athletic, with a bevy of moves to get himself open and a willingness to take any big shot. More of a streaky outside shooter than an exceptional one (37%), English is a scorer in the truest sense of the word, and he will cause matchup issues even for high-majors. He is one of two players in the country who scored 40 points or more twice this season (45 against Monmouth, 46 against Fairfield).
X factor: Much. The Buffalo transfer with an unconventional shot is a quality defender who also is the Gaels' top shooting threat (45% from 3) and stretches the floor even farther than English. When Much is knocking down shots, Iona adds another weapon to the bag of tricks. Much scored a combined 11 points against Canisius and Siena in the MAAC tournament before pouring in 15 against Monmouth.
SCOUTING REPORT
Offensive approach: Don't confuse Iona's run-and-gun style of offense with a lack of discipline. Although the Gaels thrive on the fast break, secondary breaks allow English to create for himself and others, and the Gaels run a half-court offense that generally results in 3-point attempts. Iona will take the first good look it gets, and it has five players who have attempted at least 60 3-pointers this year.
Defensive approach: Coach Cluess' team wants to speed you up and turn you over, and it will use its length on the wings and atop its full-court and three-quarter-court press to make that happen. Iona will drop back into a zone, sometimes 2-3, sometimes 1-3-1. Forward Washington (second in scoring, second in rebounding) is extremely foul-prone (3.7 per game in 18 minutes) and must stay on the floor to help the Gaels pull off an upset.
How they beat you: Iona's explosive offense thrives on shot-making and energy, and when they get rolling, the Gaels are a scary club to face. English is an adept playmaker who has posted 503 assists in his career to go with 1,976 points -- a stunning statistical display for a big-time scorer who is also a willing passer. If the Gaels dictate pace and sustain runs, they are capable of beating just about anyone on a neutral floor.
How you beat them: To give yourself a chance against Iona, you must cut off driving lanes, limit dribble penetration, extend your half-court defense and find shooters in transition. Iona might be a jump-shooting team on the break, but it creates looks with great dribble penetration. Teams with defensively strong perimeter players who can keep guards in front of them will succeed. If your team lacks in transition defense, the Gaels will likely burn you.
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
(Note: All statistics in this section are courtesy of kenpom.com and are accurate through games March 6.)
NATIONAL RANKS
Offensive efficiency: 59th (110.5)
Defensive efficiency: 123rd (101.1)
3-point percentage: 57th (37.2)
3-point percentage D: 220th (35.5)
Free throw rate: 280th (32.5)
Free throw rate D: 155th (36.2)
TO percentage: 133rd (17.6)
TO percentage D: 86th (19.4)
Good stat: 53.8% effective field goal
As we've documented in this space, the Gaels are an explosive, offensive team that is capable of running off huge point totals between media timeouts. Cluess' team is never out of a game and ranks 35th nationally in points per game. No lead is safe when you can put points on the board as quickly as the Gaels can.
Bad stat: 37.7% of points via 3-pointers
Only 18 teams in the country rely on the 3-point shot more than the Gaels, and as all hoops fans know, the shot beyond the arc can be a fickle friend. Should Iona roll off the bus cold and fail to knock shots down, it will find it hard to advance.
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?
Best-case scenario: Sweet 16
With English, a potent offense and their best basketball of the year (winners of 12 out of 13), the Gaels are a serious threat to crash March Madness and get fans around the country glued to their up-tempo style. Don't underestimate English's desire to showcase his game for the first time on the national stage, either.
Worst-case scenario: First-round loss
Although their potential is great, the Gaels rely so much on the 3-point shot that it's not unrealistic to think they could find themselves on the latter side of the "live and die by the 3" phrase. Despite their potential, a first round exit is the most likely scenario.